Because of Centrist Mark Warner, VA may be trending Democrat

[wyldwolf]

Democrats aren't supposed to be faring so well in what is assumed to be a Republican state.

One reason that they are, to hear people on both sides of the political aisle tell it, has a little something to do with the sitting Democratic Party governor.

"I think it's very good news from the standpoint that it was an affirmation of the way that Mark Warner has gone about governing," said Dick Cranwell, the chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party.

The good news that Cranwell was referring to had to do with the virtual dead heats in all three statewide races reflected in the July 19-21 polling conducted by Mason-Dixon. Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Tim Kaine held a one-point lead over Republican Party opponent Jerry Kilgore at the top of the ticket. Lieutenant-governor candidate Leslie Byrne and attorney-general candidate Creigh Deeds, meanwhile, were trailing rivals Bill Bolling and Bob McDonnell by three points and one point, respectively.

A key factor in the strong showing - the support of voters in the poll for Gov. Warner, whose approval rating, according to Mason-Dixon, stood at 74 percent last week.

http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$35970

[Arugula Latte]

1. There's hope for Virginia

mainly, but not entirely, because of the northern Va. suburbs of DC.

[Clark2008]

2. Phil Breseden's popular in Tennessee, too.

He's consistantly in the mid-50s range, even with the blow to TennCare (which wasn't really his fault, but more the fault of the Republican General Assembly who won't vote for progressive taxes, ie. an income tax).

[woodleydem]

4. Bredesen isn't nearly as popular as Warner. Warner's popularity rating is

an astonishing 74%, while Bredesen has taken a tumble lately. A recent poll has even showed Warner leading George Allen in a hypothetical matchup for the 2006 Senate race, even though Allen is pretty popular in Virginia as well.

[Clark2008]

7. I didn't say he was more popular.

I'm just pointing out that he's another popular Dem governor in an allegedly "red" state.

Mid-50s and no Republican opponent to speak of in this state is a good thing.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. Yep!

Besides all the TennCare trouble Bredesen is doing really well I think. I'm probably going to vote for him. :D In early January he had a raiting of 70%! As Howard Dean has said democrats can win everywhere if we just show up!

[Totally Committed]

3. You're all probably all too young to remember this,

but all this "Centrist" talk reminds me of those magazine ads back in the 70's that said "Because of artificial meat substances made from soy, more and more people will become vegetarians."

Anyone remember those? Just a blast from the past.

[longship]

5. Centrists are fine in the Demo Party

So are conservatives. So is anybody else who wants to join up.

But the DLC are acting thuggish. Their rhetoric is divisive and counter-productive, serving no purpose but to generate bad feelings. They richly deserve the resulting condemnation they have been receiving.

I am a very liberal Dem, but I do not like the talk about excluding people because of ideology. That's not what Dems are about; it's not what Dems have *ever* been about. Only the Repugs do that sort of thing, and it will be their downfall.

In the meantime, we *want* centrists and even conservatives to join us. That way we can be sure of victory in 2006, which, in turn, is something the country *desparately* needs. Only then will we rid the world of the pestulence named Bush.

[wyldwolf]

6. Mark Warner

...is DLC.

[Clark2008]

8. And that actually bothers me less than his visit to Bilderberg

I am really tired of that organization.

I guess it's because I was a reporter for 12 years and nearly all-white, all-male secret societies give me the willies.

[longship]

9. DLC members don't bother me.

Only divisive DLC rhetoric bothers me. Again, I don't care who joins the Dem Party as long as they act like good citizens while they're members.

[1932]

10. According to George Lakoff, centrists don't "trend" states/nation.

Centrists can win races when a lot of factors coincide. But to actually "trend" a state you have to articulate a progressive vision that wins people hearts and minds.

He gives Clinton as the example. Had Clinton trended the country left, it wouldn't have been so easy for Bush to steal the 2000 election.

So, Warner might be helping out the Democrats in VA right now, but unless he's making the case for progressive politicas in a way that grabs people hearts and minds, the Republicans are going to be able to win again without having to dramatically change their policies.

[wyldwolf]

11. According to George Lakoff...

[1932]

12. According to Naomi Klein...

...the two hallmarks of internet communities are (1) extreme narcissism and (2) the desperate desire for human interaction.

When people resist the idea that other well-informed, smart people have valuable contributions to make to the discussion of an issue, I think that's a sign of narcissism.

I'm not saying I think Lakoff is right about everything, but his argument certainly needs to be considered.